AEGEE ANKARA STATEMENT ON KOSOVO ISSUE

AEGEE Ankara had decided to express its standpoint on Kosovo
question. IPWG Ankara assumed the leading role in the preparation of this
statement and then AEGEE Ankara accepted it as the view of whole AEGEE
Ankara. After this explanation about the procedure, it should be stated
that our aim to prepare and disseminate this statement is first, to
acquaint whom it may concern about our view on the issue and second, is a
humble contribution to the discussions and efforts for the solution of the
problem.  

We, as AEGEE ANKARA, think that :
The sovereignty rights of the states are limited within the prospects of
the rule of law. In this framework, the states should obey certain
(international) norms in their manner to their citizens. In case the
states don't obey these rules, the international society has the right to
intervene. Thus, Belgrade government cannot act solely according to its
desire in solving the Kosovo problem.

However, we consider that this intervention should not be
unilateral, an essential legal framework should be constructed for the
scope of the intervention and this can be totally achieved within the
framework of United Nations. We are aware that the current structure of
the UN does not allow this and that UN had been founded with rather vague
principles, moreover UN seems rather conservative on the sovereignty
rights of states. Additionally, we are also aware of the ongoing debate
about the reformation of the existing UN structure. In this context, we
think that UN should be brought to a structure, which shall prevent both
arbitrary actions of the states and unilateral interventions.

We admit that we don't have a definite opinion about NATO's
military intervention. We consider that by the beginning of the bombing,
there was no other solution left. We think that Milosevic's tactic based
on taking time with diplomatic negotiations while continuing the ethnic
cleansing policy is well known since the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Additionally, we know that there was the need for urgent action against
the same scenario in Kosovo. In this context, we think that no other
solution was left by the beginning of the bombing.

However, we think that NATO attacks are far from achieving its
target by now. Furthermore, we think that apart from achieving its target,
NATO attacks contributed to the emergence of new problems. It helped
Milosevic to strengthen and legitimise his power and accelerated the
ethnic cleansing. In this sense, although there was no other solution
left, the only alternative also created unexpected results. Consequently,
we cannot reach a definite opinion about the contribution of NATO attacks
to the solution of the crisis.

We think that after the bombardment, Belgrade regime gained power
to repress the opposing groups. In this sense, NATO attacks harmed the
anti-nationalist, independent, democratic opposition in Yugoslavia. Since
peace in Balkans cannot be thought without Serbia, with the idea that the
creation of a democratic and peaceful Serbia shall extensively contribute
to the peace in Balkans, we insist that Yugoslav opposition should be
highly supported.
NATO attacks go on with essential deficiencies and we cannot
accept harming the civilians, whether they are Serbs or Albanians.
In the discussions on the reasons of NATO bombing, we came across
to some arguments which claim that: the aim of the bombing is not to solve
the Kosovo question but the spreading of market economy throughout the
world, to try new military technology, to get rid of the old ones, a tool
to establish US hegemony regionally/globally. Although we are doubtful
about how explanatory these arguments are, we must say that we are
uncomfortable about these.
We believe that necessary conditions for the return of refugees to
their homes should be provided as soon as possible. We demand that all
must be done to provide them life with human dignity until they return
home.
We believe that nationalism in the Balkans accelerates problems
rather than solving them. In this sense, the aggressive effects of all
nationalisms, especially Serbian and Albanian nationalism in this case,
should be prevented as well as possible spreading of the war to whole
Balkans must be prevented.
We consider that the reinforcement of the relations between
Yugoslav and Albanian NGOs can extremely contribute to the solution.

IPWG ATHINA STATEMENT ON KOSOVO ISSUE

Bypassing international court and UN procedures to judge the attitude of a sovereign nation towards part of its people is illegal and arrogant. What happened in Kosovo by the police and the paramilitary was very ugly and condemnable.It is a great responsibility to pretend to be the just power that fixes everything.
If we are to bring peace on the planet then we should work on running the right procedures.


International Politics Working Group
Aegee-Athina